Bible: Neh 8

8:1allthe peoplegatheredtogether1in the plazawhichwas in frontof the WaterGate. They asked2Ezrathe scribeto bringthe bookof the lawof Moseswhichthe LORDhad commandedIsrael.8:2So Ezrathe priestbroughtthe lawbeforethe assemblywhich included menand womenand allthose able to understandwhat they heard. (This happened on the firstdayof the seventhmonth.)8:3So he readit beforethe plazain frontof the WaterGatefromdawntillnoon3beforethe menand womenand those children who could understand.4Allthe peoplewere eager tohear5 the bookof the law.

8:11Then the Levitesquietedallthe peoplesaying, “Be quiet, forthis dayis holy. Do notgrieve.”8:12Soallthe peopledeparted to eatand drinkand to sharetheir food16 with others17 and to enjoy tremendousjoy,18forthey had gained insightin the mattersthat hadbeen made knownto them.

8:13On the seconddayof the month the family leaders19met with20 Ezrathe scribe, togetherwith allthe people, the priests, and the Levites, toconsiderthe wordsof the law.8:14They discoveredwrittenin the lawthatthe LORDhad commandedthrough21Mosesthatthe Israelitesshould livein temporary sheltersduring the festivalof the seventhmonth,8:15and thatthey should make a proclamationand disseminatethis message22in alltheir citiesand in Jerusalem:23 “Goto the hill countryand bring backolivebranchesand branchesof wild olivetrees, myrtle trees, date palms, and other leafytreesto constructtemporary shelters, as it is written.”

8:16Sothe peoplewent outand broughtthese things24 back and constructedtemporary sheltersfor themselves, eachonhis roofand in his courtyardand in the courtyardsof the temple25of Godand in the plazaof the WaterGateand the plazaof the EphraimGate.8:17Soallthe assemblywhich had returnedfromthe exileconstructed temporary sheltersand livedin them. The Israeliteshadnotdoneso from the daysof Joshuasonof Nununtilthatday. Everyone experienced verygreatjoy.268:18Ezra27 readin the bookof the lawof Goddayby day, fromthe firstdayto the last.28They observedthe festivalfor sevendays, and onthe eighthdaythey held an assembly29as was required.30